In The News

Patricia Hearst’s kidnapers demand that her father, within 24 hours, put another $4 million into the $2 million free food program he launched in an effort to gain her release.

The Hearst Corp. says it will put the additional $4 million into a food-for-the-poor project if Patricia Hearst is released unhurt. This was announced after Randolph Hearst said he personally could not guarantee the new demands.

A U.S district judge orders Lt. William Calley Jr. freed on $1,000 bail pending a review of his conviction for murdering at least 22 Vietnamese civilians at the hamlet of My Lai.

More kidnapping news – The American Revolutionary Army kidnapers of Atlanta Constitution editor Reg Murphy agree to set Murphy free in exchange for $700,000, providing there was no “hanky panky.”

David Rockefeller, chairman of New York’s Chase Manhattan Bank and brother of Nelson Rockefeller, turns down a White House offer of appointment as secretary of the Treasury. The resignation of the present secretary, George P. Shultz, is expected soon.

President Nixon establishes a Cabinet-level committee to help protect citizens from the misuse of personal date stored in government computers. In a radio address, the President said – “What was once a minor problem affecting only a small number of people has now become a national problem that could potentially affect every American with a charge account, a service or personnel record, a credit card, a Social Security number, a mortgage or an appliance or an automobile bought on time.” “In short, data banks affect nearly every man, women and child in the United States.”

President Nixon declares that the energy crisis is past but that the problem remains, that lines at gas stations “will become shorter in the spring and summer.” Also, prices will not drop until supplies pick up.

More oil – The Shah of Iran, interviewed on “60 Minutes,” said that Americans were buying more foreign oil than ever, certainly not less.

At bookstores, “Jaws” by Peter Benchley. The author has fished for sharks of Nantucket and written numerous articles about them.

Medical/Health news – February 20, 1974

About 95% of the nation’s preschool children and women of childbearing age appear to lack sufficient iron in their diets, according to a study from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

Jane Fonda arrives in Washington to open a month-long drive to get members of Congress to sign pledges to halt U.S. military aid to South Vietnam.

Sports news – February 20, 1974

Sports TV – Are there going to be changes in the Monday night football booth? The mill says Joe Namath is going to replace Don Meredith, since the latter still hasn’t signed a new contract. Roone Arledge who heads ABC sports, says Namath will probably play out his Jets option and will leave him out. There are also rumors that Chris Schenkel will be out of the ABC-TV college football broadcasts.

At 23, Julius Erving of the New York Nets (Dr. J.) is already a legend. And, he’s the ABA’s biggest attraction.

Tom Seaver, twice the National League’s Cy Young Award winner, becomes the highest-paid baseball pitcher in history (so far) and signs with the New York Mets for an estimated $172,500.

Killed – Tim Horton – defenseman with the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL when his sportscar crashes.

Entertainment/Celebrity news – February 20, 1974

Peter Sellers emphatically denies taking any nude pictures o singer Liza Minnelli during their short engagement last year. Hollywood columnist Marvene Jones wrote in the Hollywood Reporter that Ms. Minnelli was trying to get back the negatives of “simply sizzling” nude photographs Sellers took of her.

Sonny Bono files for a legal separation from his wife, Cher. They were married in October, 1964.

In an interview on NBC-TV’s “Today Show,” Mrs Lyndon Johnson says her husband’s reputation as a flirt and a ladies man was just part of the former president’s love of people. “Lyndon was a people love and that certainly didn’t include – did not exclude – half the people in the world, women.” Said Lady Byrd.